Ibpointless2 Crystal Cells

[triffid]

The sodium silicate did not protect the magnesium strips.I now have white and brown oxides of magnesium in the cells I made last night.And bubbles,Never had bubbles before!triffid

[triffid]

HeyPB,I like your 100x pictures.I used to work with an electron microscope back in 1979 when I worked for an oil well treatment company.I think we called them photomicrographs?I used to take pictures of rock samples at 30,000X to 50,000X.triffid

[Peanutbutter29]

First, Ty for the good comments!  Ya the boat was just a way to keep em' even, which seems to have worked well.  As for Chemistry, I know a bit, but as I stated in my first couple posts here;  I'm self-taught also.  Having said that, opportunity has been kind at times to provide circumstance to learn each of the areas.  Guy I worked for showed me some gold, a clear liquid, a white powder added to clear liquid;  then a brown precipitate came out (gold powder).  He said, "the guy who has this wants 250K for the recipe.  Here's a pile of computer parts, figure out how to get me gold like this for little money"  Heh, well I learned a bit about chemistry there.  Took a few months, but I figured out how to oxidize, reduce and smelt gold from PC boards (back when gold was 400oz, lol).  I suppose much of this is related from learning with pc parts and ores;  some with electronics.  But ya, always trying to learn.

Okay, nuff rambling.  First about the brown with Vit C..ty for asking that!  Found something out as to why it would help and as you mentioned make softer

Wiki Ascorbic Acid
"As a mild reducing agent, ascorbic acid degrades upon exposure to air, converting the oxygen to water. The redox reaction is accelerated by the presence of metal ions and light. It can be oxidized by one electron to a radical state or doubly oxidized to the stable form called dehydroascorbic acid."

Uhhh, check.

Wiki DHA
"Various amino acids react differently to DHA, producing different tones of coloration from yellow to brown"

There be yer brown

Now for about the "tall order" that does remain to been seen, but I bet it can be all you said;  excluding non-toxic.  Unless we can make an insoluble electrolyte (superheated cell?) or eliminate sulfates and chlorides;  it will be toxic to some degree.

With long term on the gypsum cells, ya and I don't expect the first to last terribly long....just can't.  I've got 4 more drying hoping to reduce current  a bit (increased the gypsum).  I am adding quite a bit less gypsum though, just enough to bind.  6 parts in 36 in the 4 drying (up a bit from first)

Lastly about only durham's and epsom.  How about this...with "common" electrodes Cu Mg here's what I tested with various solutions.  See which you'd like..
(concentrations appx 1 tsp in 300ml R/O water)

Epsom Salt = 1.45v @ 4.5ma - 322 ohms
Potash Alum= 1.65V @ 7ma - 235 ohms
Substitute = 1.30V @ 10ma - 130 ohms
Borax - (did not test this combo at this point but predictably...) around 1.35V @ 8ma - 170 ohms
Table Salt = (did not test this combo at this point but predicably...) around 1.42V @ 3.4ma - 410 ohms

I suppose those are most of what's been used.  You can kinda get an idea depending on what your looking for.

Thanks

EDIT Ty for the comments also Triffid!  On your white precipitate, if you've got aluminum in there it's prolly aluminum chloride or another chloride /-ate
Oh and the pics, believe it or not thats a 30.00 "spy tech" microscope with RCA out and a usb memory stick, nice to have at times.

[triffid]

Heres a link to the EPA's regulations on precious metal refining. http://www.goldrecovery.us/goldrecovery/documents/epa_recyclers.pdf


Another reason to keep our experiments safe and able to do at home. At the 6th grade level that is!triffid




PB,check out  http://www.goldrefiningforum.com.If you are not a member there you might want to join? No cost to join.

[triffid]

A link to a database on household chemicals.   http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/ingredients.htm triffid




A wealth of information here.I found zinc oxide in diaper rash ointment.Many ,Many more products listed here